So the whole purpose of the Quarter Acre project was to help show farmers that they can have nutritional foods for their family, as well as an additional cash flow from various plants on a small plot of land.
Additionally, there is a school right next to the plot (both of which are run by our partner SKS) which needed painting. This plus a service activity for the local LDS branch means we get the project completed in one day!
After going 4 hours by bus to the location, we find that the land is all put into neat plots and we have paint for the school. We originally were going to do a soilet there as well, but SKS decided to wait until the Soilet Conference this tuesday to see how they work/if they want to implement them in their projects.
This project ended up being fantastic. We got some great shots and a lot of people helped make a difference.
The field last monday when we visited, after plowing but before working it into beds
The field into beds!
People working on planting in the fields
The walls pre-painting
Some of the painting
More of the painting in progress...
One of the designs (that black and yellow stripe below it went around the entire room)
Melissa with the young women who helped
The women helping to paint educational materials
The entire group
It was such a rewarding day and it was neat to know that our work will go towards helping local farmers gain different skills as well as help the school with educational materials.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Quarter Acre Project
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
It's business time!
So for the past few weeks life has been going at supersonic speed. Half of our team has left (so sad) and yet we're still just as busy (if not busier) than ever.
One of the projects I've recently hopped on with is the women's group. There is a group of women at church who through some reason or another, are in need of employment that they can do part time. They have formed a group together and have decided to start a business.
Preparing stuff in the kitchen
Their first thing that they are going to do is cook and sell pickles.
And no I don't mean these kinds of pickles:
I mean THESE:
Look at how yummy they are!
Brinjal
Ladyfingers
Capsicum
Drumsticks
The women made brinjal (eggplant), ladyfingers (okra), capsicum (green bell peppers), and drumsticks (it's only here in India that I know of....), for veggie pickle. They also made a chicken pickle but I haven't seen it yet.
So the way you eat pickles here is you only have a little bit on your plate to help add flavor to whatever your eating/spice up your food. They are all delicious and the women are super friendly and fun to be around.
Laughing and shelling garlic for the chicken pickles
The group they have decided to come up with is called W.E.E., Women Empowered through Employment. It's fun to be able to help them with basic business practices and to get them started on their way.
Today I have been working on a design for their logo and I have a preliminary design. We'll see what they decide on and I'll post about it later.
Either way, this has been a great opportunity and a fun way to realize how much I've learned through my education simple business activities and ventures. I hope the women do well, their cooking is AMAZING.
